What happened: New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson emphasized his commitment to pass blocking to keep quarterback Drake clean and assist the offensive line entering Thursday night's game at Chicago. His support for the unit comes two days after he spoke publicly about losing his mother and advocated for mental-health awareness.

Why it matters: Pass-protection duties carry extra weight against the Bears with New England ruling out linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker with a hamstring injury and Ben Brown with a knee issue. Stevenson recently reclaimed lead backfield duties against the Jets after the Patriots weighed a backfield split following a September fumble.

What to watch: New England kicks off against the Bears in Chicago on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime.